The Hymns of Prudentius Part 4

"All this realm ye now shall sway:"

(Saidst Thou) "use it at your will, Yet 'tis death your hands to lay On the Tree, whose verdant sway Doth the midmost garden fill."

Then the Serpent's guileful hate Would not innocency spare: Bade the maiden urge her mate With the fruit his lips to sate, Nor 'scaped she the self-same snare.

Each their nakedness perceives When the feast they once partook: Smit with shame their conscience grieves: Wove they coverings of leaves Shielding from lascivious look.

Far they both in terror fled Thrust from dwelling of the pure: She who erst had dwelt unwed Subject to her spouse was led, Bidden Hymen's bonds endure.

On the Serpent, too, His seal G.o.d hath set, Who guile abhorred, Doomed in triple neck to feel Impress of the woman's heel, Fearing her, who feared her lord.

Thus sin in our parents sown Brought forth ruin for the race; Good and evil having grown From that primal root alone, Nought but death could guilt efface.

But the Second Man behold Come to re-create our kin: Not formed after common mould But our G.o.d (O Love untold!) Made in flesh that knows not sin.

Word of G.o.d incarnated, By His awful power conceived, Whom a maiden yet unwed, Innocent of marriage-bed, In her virgin womb received.

Now we see the Serpent lewd 'Neath the woman's heel downtrod: Whence there sprang the deadly feud, Strife for ages unsubdued, 'Twixt mankind and foe of G.o.d.

Yet G.o.d's mother, Maid adored, Robbed sin's poison of its bane, And the Snake, his green coils lowered, Writhing on the sod, outpoured Harmless now his venom's stain.

What fierce brute that doth not flee Lambs of Christ, white-robed and clean?

'Midst the flock from fear set free, Slinks the drear wolf sullenly, Checked his maw and tamed his mien.

Wondrous change! restrained by love Lions the mild lamb obey: Eagles wild, before the dove Fluttering from the stars above, Speed o'er cloudy winds away.

Thou, O Christ, my Dove dost reign Where the vulture gnaws no more: Thou dost, snow-white Lamb, enchain Tigers fierce, and wolves restrain Gaping at the sheepfold's door.

G.o.d of Love, Thy servants we Pray Thee now to grant our prayer That our feast may frugal be, Nor that we dishonour Thee By coa.r.s.e surfeit of rich fare.

May we taste no bitter gall In our cup, nor handle we Aught of death or harm at all, Nor intemperately fall Into gross debauchery.

Be the powers of h.e.l.l content With their primal fraud, whereby Death into this world was sent, And that, for sin's chastis.e.m.e.nt, G.o.d's own creatures once should die.

But in us G.o.d's Breath of fire Cannot lose its vital force: Never can its might expire, Flowing from the Eternal Sire, Who of Reason's strength is source.

Nay, from out death's chilling tomb Mortal atoms shall arise: Man from earth's vast, hidden womb Other, yet the same, shall bloom, Dust re-made in glorious guise.

'Tis my faith--and faith not vain-- Bodies live e'en as the soul: Since I hold in memory plain G.o.d as man uprose again, Loosed from h.e.l.l, to His true goal.

Whence from Him the hope I reap That these limbs the same shall rise, Which enwrapped in balmy sleep Christ the Risen safe shall keep Till He call me to the skies.

IV. HYMNUS POST CIb.u.m

Pastis visceribus ciboque sumpto, quem lex corporis inbecilla poscit, laudem lingua Deo patri rependat; Patri, qui Cherubin sedile sacrum, nec non et Seraphin suum supremo 5 subnixus solio tenet regitque.

Hic est, quem Sabaoth Deum vocamus, expers principii carensque fine, rerum conditor et repertor orbis: fons vitae liquida fluens ab arce, 10 infusor fidei, sator pudoris, mortis perdomitor, salutis auctor.

Omnes quod sumus aut vigemus, inde est: regnat Spiritus ille sempiternus a Christo simul et Parente missus. 15 Intrat pectora candidus pudica, quae templi vice consecrata rident, postquam conbiberint Deum medullis.

Sed si quid vitii dolive nasci inter viscera iam dicata sensit, 20 ceu spurc.u.m refugit celer sacellum.

Taetrum flagrat enim vapore cra.s.so horror conscius aestuante culpa offensumque bonum niger repellit.

Nec solus pudor innocensve votum 25 templum const.i.tuunt perenne Christo in cordis medii sum ac recessu: sed ne c.r.a.pula ferveat cavendum est, quae sedem fidei cibis refertam usque ad congeriem coartet intus. 30

Parcis victibus expedita corda infusum melius Deum receptant.

Hic pastus animae est, saporque verus: sed nos tu gemino fovens paratu artus atque animas utroque pastu 35 confirmas Pater ac vigore conples.

Sic olim tua praecluens potestas inter raucisonos situm leones, inlapsis dapibus virum refovit.

Illum fusile numen execrantem 40 et curvare caput sub expolita aeris materia nefas putantem

Plebs dirae Babylonis ac tyrannus morti subdiderant, feris dicarant saevis protinus haustibus vorandum. 45 O semper pietas fidesque tuta!

lambunt indomiti virum leones intactumque Dei tremunt alumnum.

Adstant cominus et iubas reponunt, mansuescit rabies fameque blanda 50 praedam rictibus ambit incruentis.

Sed c.u.m tenderet ad superna palmas expertumque sibi Deum rogaret, clausus iugiter indigensque victu:

Iussus nuntius advolare terris, 55 qui pastum famulo daret probato, raptim desilit obsequente mundo.

Cernit forte procul dapes inemptas, quas messoribus Abbacuc propheta agresti bonus exhibebat arte. 60

Huius caesarie manu prehensa plenis, sicut erat, gravem canistris suspensum rapit et vehit per auras.

Tum raptus simul ipse prandiumque sensim labitur in lac.u.m leonum, 65 et, quas tunc epulas gerebat, offert:

Sumas laetus, ait, libensque carpas, quae summus Pater, angelusque Christi mittunt liba tibi sub hoc periclo.

His sumptis Danielus excitavit 70 in caelum faciem ciboque fortis Amen reddidit, Halleluia dixit.

Sic nos muneribus tuis refecti, largitor Deus omnium bonorum, grates reddimus et sacramus hymnos. 75 Tu nos tristifico velut tyranno mundi scilicet inpotentis actu conclusos regis et feram repellis,

Quae circ.u.mfremit ac vorare temptat insanos acuens furore dentes, 80 cur te, summe Deus, precemur unum.

Vexamur, premimur, malis rotamur; oderunt, lacerant, trahunt, lacessunt, iuncta est suppliciis fides iniquis.

Nec defit tamen anxiis medela; 85 nam languente trucis leonis ira inlapsae superingeruntur escae.

Quas si quis sitienter hauriendo non gustu tenui, sed ore pleno internis velit inplicare venis, 90

Hic sancto satiatus ex propheta, iustorum capiet cibos virorum, qui fructum domino metunt perenni.

Nil est dulcius ac magis saporum, nil quod plus hominem iuvare possit, 95 quam vatis pia praecinentis orsa.

His sumptis licet insolens potestas pravum iudicet, inrogetque mortem, inpasti licet inruant leones, nos semper Dominum patrem fatentes 100 in te, Christe Deus, loquemur unum constanterque tuam crucem feremus.

IV. HYMN AFTER MEAT

Refreshed we rise, and for this bread that feeds, By law of man's weak flesh, our daily needs, Let every tongue, the Father's praises sing; The Father Who on His exalted throne, O'er Cherubim and Seraphim, alone Reigns in His majesty, Eternal King.